Advantages

Disadvantages

An excellent, overnight treatment for extremely dry hands.

INTRODUCTION

Because I do a lot of baking and cooking I have to wash my hands countless times every day. Add to that naturally dry skin and the punishment of a harsh winter and my hands end up covered in dry, dead skin and, worse; tiny cracks.

I have tried a lot of hand moisturisers. Some have been great for short-term use, or for daytime use, but when it comes to bedtime I want a cream that is going to be thick, rich and healing.

I want something gloopy!

PRODUCT DESCRIPTION

I discovered Superdrug's Concentrated Hand Balm a year or so ago. I'm often in Superdrug and I like many of their own-brand products, especially as they often have a multibuy or discount offers. They sell a wide range of own-brand creams within the Hand Therapy range but I selected this one as it contains glycerin. From experience I have learned that glycerin is the most effective ingredient for relieving dryness and cracking when my hands get extremely bad.

All the Hand Therapy creams come in distinctively coloured 75ml tubes. The Dry Skin Cream is in a turquoise tube. The tube is made of a thick, rubbery plastic. When nearly empty the thickness of the plastic makes it very hard to squeeze out the last bit of product and so I've resorted to cutting the tube open with scissors to reach the final few millilitres.

The tube sits on a snap-top lid which is easily opened and closed.

The cream itself has very little smell, is translucent white, and is as thick and creamy as a rich hair conditioner.

In other words, it's very gloopy!

USER EXPERIENCE

This product is described as a 'rescue treatment', implying it's for short-term use on very chapped hands, but I use it for a medium-to-long period of time, usually two or three months at a stretch. I apply it last thing at night or when I'm going outside on a cold day and know I won't have to wash my hands for several hours.

I find it best to build the cream up on my hands in two or three layers, allowing each application to soak in before rubbing in more. I use a portion the size of a small marble for each application and rub it in thoroughly. It absorbs slowly for a hand cream, and the translucent product turns white as I rub it into my hands. I then let my hands air dry for a minute or so allowing the cream to be absorbed completely.

For me this is more than a hand cream as it doesn't just soften my hands; it creates a protective layer. Once I've applied the cream I avoid washing my hands for as long as possible (so I go to the loo first!) to allow the cream to do its stuff.

The cream turns slimy as soon as it comes into contact with water. A quick rinse of my fingers doesn't remove the cream barrier, although I have to dry my hands carefully with a tissue. The slimy feeling can remain for several minutes. Far better to wash my hands with soap and dry thoroughly, and then re-apply.

CONCLUSION

This cream is impractical as a day hand cream as it's so rich and thick. I find it far better to use overnight, perhaps with cotton gloves on top, in order to gain the full benefit of the cream.

An excellent cream for extremely dry hands and an essential product for winter.